POLICE today apologised to a man for saying he was on the run.

A photograph of Christopher McGuire, 22, of Kings Road, Livesey, Blackburn, was released two weeks ago as police launched a crackdown on outstanding warrants.

Officers said Mr McGuire failed to appear at court after being charged with an offence and had fled his last known address. But a police spokesman today revealed Mr McGuire had been charged with burglary on July 16 and faces a trial, but did not have an outstanding warrant against him.

He added: "We would like to apologise to Mr McGuire for including him in the wanted circulation. His details were released due to an administrative error."

Meanwhile, the six remaining men, from Accrington, Blackburn and Darwen, whose details were released are probably on the run out of East Lancashire.

That is the police conclusion as they have had no tip-offs about them, despite widespread circulation of their pictures in the media.

Police chose to release details of those men because -- out of the 196 outstanding warrants in the Eastern Division, covering Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley -- they were charged with the most serious offences, including indecent assault, arson, supplying drugs and assault.

The wanted men are: Seamus Bell, 24, of Hannah Street, Sudell, Darwen; Wayne Nichol, 30, of Richmond Avenue, Scaitcliffe, Accrington; Panayis Mitzides, 52, of Preston New Road, Bank Top, Blackburn; Wayne Gregson, 28, of Pearl Street, Accrington; James Wild, 19, of Police Street, Darwen; and Michael Taylor, 31, of Monk Street, Accrington.